Parents upset over announced closure of St. Colman's daycare

WATERVLIET -- The St. Colman's daycare on Haswell Road is slated to close at the end of June.

Administrators have told the parents of the nearly 100 children who attend the facility that it is in too much debt -- as much as $1 million -- to continue operation.

This has left parents seeking answers, especially to the questions of why daycare officials never asked them to do fundraising or why the fee for the program was never increased.

"We would have paid more," said Melissa France of Colonie, whose 4-year-old daughter has attended the daycare since she was about 18 months old. "They have very reasonable rates. They are definitely the lowest in the area. If they had advertised that more, I bet they would not be closing."

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For France, and for the nearly 20 parents who attended a recent meeting to discuss the closing, the daycare means a lot to them and their children. At the meeting, the possibility of finding another daycare provider to buy the facility was discussed as an option to keep the place open, but it might not be feasible.

Another meeting was held more recently with a slightly decreased attendance since it appears nothing can be done and the administrators are answering neither calls nor questions. Due to this, local elected representatives have been contacted.

"On the very first day I visited the daycare, I felt at ease there. And I am very picky about who watches my daughter," said France.

France said the number of teachers has decreased from 20 to about 17 as people take other positions, and parents are on the hunt for a new daycare facility.

Multiple calls to the daycare were not returned.

The site, which also houses autistic programs that will not be affected, is managed by the Sisters of the Presentation and has origins dating back to the 1800s. The daycare is at least three decades old.